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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsWhat a disappointment in the very last seconds of the women's road race
Team USA's Mara Abbott ran out of gas and went from the lead to 4th in the last 250m.
Abbott took the lead after the Dutch rider who was leading crashed. She was alone from the top of the mountain down to the very end, with a lead of as much as 40 seconds. The second, third and fourth riders were drafting, trading places, working together, and saving a bit of juice for the sprint at the end. That was the difference.
Gold went to the Netherlands for the second time in a row.
Congrats to all.
gademocrat7
(10,672 posts)I thought Mara Abbott was going to take the gold.
Takket
(21,632 posts)it hurts to lose the gold but to win any medal is an accomplishment of skill i cannot even fathom, which is why she must be crushed to be going home without even a bronze.
KMOD
(7,906 posts)muriel_volestrangler
(101,367 posts)Women's road race
Posted at
20:28
According to the Dutch Cycling Federation: "Van Vleuten appears to be okay. More news will follow."
KNWU
Van Vleuten blijkt oké te zijn. Meer nieuws volgt.
7:16 p.m. - 7 August 2016
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/live/olympics/36772158
Which is good, because she wasn't even moving when the cameras stopped filming her.
Stinky The Clown
(67,819 posts)That was very scary. Glad she's okay. Had she stayed up she'd have likely done gold for the second olympics in a row.
narnian60
(3,510 posts)It looked like a neck injury to me. Still waiting to hear.
Greybnk48
(10,176 posts)We're terrified to hear what happened to the Dutch girl who crashed. We hope she's not hurt too badly.
Stinky The Clown
(67,819 posts)But man, that was scary.
muriel_volestrangler
(101,367 posts)Stinky The Clown
(67,819 posts)I'm not surprised. It was a very bad spill and she was motionless for the entire time the camera was on her.
muriel_volestrangler
(101,367 posts)The International Cycling Union (UCI) cyclings governing body said in a statement: Ms. van Vleuten is conscious, able to communicate. Further medical checks currently being made at the hospital.
http://sports.yahoo.com/news/dutch-cyclist-annemiek-van-vleuten-stable-after-horrific-rio-olympics-crash-204411964.html
muriel_volestrangler
(101,367 posts)Initially, the Dutch Cycling Federation tweeted that she was conscious and able to communicate, with the 33-year-old undergoing further medical checks in hospital. However, reports on Dutch television said Van Vleuten was being kept in intensive care overnight after suffering three cracks in her spine and concussion.
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/aug/07/annemiek-van-vleuten-intensive-care-olympic-road-race
louis-t
(23,297 posts)Saw the whole thing. Just stunned..
sarisataka
(18,774 posts)Having been there I know it's hard to swallow but she should be proud to have come so close.
roamer65
(36,747 posts)That was an absolutely grueling race and 4th is no shame in it.
Stinky The Clown
(67,819 posts)And then sprinting and competing only after they passed her. Good competition and very smart riding.
ellie
(6,929 posts)And the Dutch rider who fell, Jesus. She just lay on the curb. That was horrific. I am glad she is ok.
gduval
(12 posts)She just looked tired. Didn't have a sprint in her for the final 500 meters after the other 3 darted past.